This paper presents the experimental results of the emissions of CO and CO2 using rice husks as fuel on different configurations of spout-sluidized beds namely, multiple- spouted and spout-fluid fluidized bed. The emission of pollutants from the multiple-spouted bed and spout-fluid bed was investigated with rice husk fuel. The operating parameters considered were the different levels of excess air, different primary-to-secondary air ratios at each level of excess air and method of feeding. It was found that emission of CO from the multiple-spouted bed seemed to be lower with under-bed feeding of the rice husk fuel compared to over-bed feeding. However, the emission of CO2 did not change significantly for both methods of feeding. Changes in excess air levels influenced the emissions of CO and CO2 from the multiple-spouted bed within the excess air range investigated. It was found that emission of CO was less at 10% excess air with over-bed feeding; emission of CO in the case of under-bed feeding was lowest at 20% excess air level. It was found that the method of feeding had not significantly influenced the emission of CO and CO2 in the spout-fluid bed. The combustion efficiency however, in general, was slightly higher in the case of under-bed feeding compared to overbed feeding. Emission of CO was less in the spout-fluid bed compared with the emission of CO in the multiple- spouted bed. The result can be likely attributed to the higher combustion efficiency attained by the spout-fluid bed compared with that of multiple-spouted bed. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.